ASHLEY GRAHAM’S BEAUTY SECRETS
SUPERMODEL AND MUM-OF-ONE ASHLEY GRAHAM TALKS BODY CONFIDENCE, TIME-SAVING BEAUTY REGIMES AND HOW SHE’S FOLLOWING IN KATE MOSS’S FOOTSTEPS
If you believe there’s truth to the stereotype that models rarely have much to say in real life, you’d only need around 20 seconds with Ashley Graham before you changed your mind. The American beauty is witty, warm and incredibly humble – a real feat considering she’s paved the way for plus-size women in the fashion and beauty industry.
She’s also outrageously beautiful, something we note instantly despite the dodgy Zoom connection. And Ashley,
33, isn’t afraid to talk about her beauty hang-ups either, revealing that motherhood unexpectedly brought on a bout of rosacea, and that skin texture is a real concern.
The model, and new St Tropez ambassador, does however have some time-saving beauty tricks up her sleeve, and she’s also keen to let us all in on the secrets behind her body confidence. Ready to take note? Then read on…
Ashley, you know a thing or two about confidence. How can we all feel great after a tough year?
Confidence is really about your own self journey and everybody is so different. Don’t put expectations on yourself or say you have to do things in order to feel good.
I also think if you make rituals for yourself, like meditation, it’ll help you escape the trapped feeling we’ve all been experiencing.
When do you feel your best?
When I’ve had my nails and hair done, when my jewellery is on, and when I’ve got a tan – it’s just the ultimate accessory, and a glow gives me that extra boost of confidence. I’m using my Ashley Graham x St Tropez Ultimate Glow Kit at the moment and it’s perfect.
Yes, you’re the new St Tropez ambassador. Congratulations!
I was so honoured, especially considering I’m following in the iconic Kate Moss’s footsteps. It feels amazing to step in after her. I’ve been a fan of the brand and a self-tanning fan for ages, so it feels really genuine.
Summer is just around the corner. Do you feel pressure to look “perfect”?
I find the term “summer body” so triggering, and I think it’s the same for so many people. What does it mean? At the end of the day, my body is always ready and available for me, and I’m not ever getting ready for someone else or society.
What about being on social media when filters are so present?
I want to normalise every type of body with my content. When people filter or alter themselves to change who they are, it creates a lot of insecurities. I feel if I’d had a role model when I was in my early teens that looked like me and was talking about being “not perfect”, my mindset might have been a little different. I might have made a few different choices, like how I treated my body.
Has it been tricky fitting in “me time” around being a new mum?
My beauty regime has gone. I used to wash my face and have a hot towel and make it a whole thing, but that’s all BS at this point. When the baby [Isaac, 16 months] goes down around 6.30-7.30pm, then I take time for myself.
Has that change in routine impacted your skin at all?
After having the baby I did get a sort of texture to my skin. I used to have really great skin, like baby-smooth with a few freckles. Then the baby came and I got rosacea, and then with wearing masks, I’ve been breaking out on my cheeks. I think we’ve all gone through skin changes in the past year.
We’d never guess! We can see your gorgeous glow from here...
It’s St Tropez Purity Face Mist, it’s a godsend. I’m also big on skincare, but with being a mum and living a life on the go, everything is about efficiency. Like, can I make a cocktail of products and put it on my hand and will it all just work at the same time? That’s what I do now.
Do you have any other beauty tips or tricks you can share with us?
I’m loving Revlon’s Skinlights Face Glow Illuminator, I think it gives my cheekbones that extra glow. I tint my eyebrows so I don’t have to worry about colouring them in, and I always brush them up with a hard gel or a hairspray. If I’m just wearing mascara, I’ll throw on chunky earrings for glam.
‘I find the term “Summer body” triggering. what does It mean?’